2 Abu Sayyaf members nabbed in Tawi-Tawi: AFP

ABS-CBN News

State forces on Thursday arrested two Abu Sayyaf members in Tawi-Tawi amid continuing operations against the bandit group, the military said.

In separate operations, Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Omar Harun was arrested in Barangay Poblacion, Taganak town, while Ara Samindi was apprehended in Lagaan Island, Tawi-Tawi, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM ) said in a statement.

"The complementing effort of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi and the Tawi-tawi PNP (Philippine National Police) is very vital in the capture of these ASG bandits," said WESMINCOM commander Lt. General Carlito Galvez, Jr.

The military said both members were involved in maritime hijacking activities, including the attack on a Vietnamese vessel last February, where six crewmen were held hostage and one was killed.

Meanwhile, the decapitated bodies of two Vietnamese hostages abducted from another vessel in November 2016 were recovered by the military on July 5.

Earlier, a Vietnamese hostage, was rescued by state forces in Basilan on June 16.

As of this posting, the military said 69 Abu Sayyaf members have been arrested, of which 11 were nabbed in Basilan, 43 in Sulu, 10 in Zamboanga, and five in Tawi-Tawi.